BDR1624 is a 2017 Backdraft RT3 Cobra finished in Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes and white gumball rondels, ordered with a Ford 5.0L Gen II Coyote V8, a Tremec T56 Magnum 6-speed, and the BMW E36 suspension and brake package standard on the RT3. After original delivery from Backdraft in 2017, the first owner sold the car shortly after through Streetside Classics with very few miles on the odometer. The second owner kept it through 2025, then traded it to Global Imports in Atlanta in August of that year.
Build Summary
- Completion date: 2017
- Build number: BDR1624
- Color: Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes; white gumball rondels
- Odometer: 1,870 miles (most recent documented reading, 2020-07-26)
- Title state: Georgia (“2017 Roadster Roadster”)
- Current status: traded to Global Imports of Atlanta in August 2025. Available inventory and current condition to be confirmed.
Specifications
Engine
- Ford 5.0L Gen II Coyote V8, 302 cubic inch
- 435 horsepower at 6,500 rpm
- 400 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm
- Compression ratio 11:1
- Bore 3.63 inches (92.2 mm), stroke 3.65 inches (92.7 mm)
- Valvetrain: Ti-VCT, DOHC, 32 valve
- Sequential multi-port fuel injection
Transmission
- Tremec T56 Magnum 6-speed
- 700 lb-ft torque capacity
- 26-spline input, 31-spline output
- Gear ratios: 1st 2.66, 2nd 1.78, 3rd 1.30, 4th 1.00, 5th 0.80, 6th 0.63
Suspension (BMW E36 donor, standard RT3 spec)
- Front: cast lower wishbones with coil-over strut
- Rear: full IRS with two track control arms and one longitudinal arm
Brakes
- BMW E36 donor (standard RT3 spec)
Wheels and tires
- 18-inch Halibrand-style knock-off
- Front: 245/40/18
- Rear: 295/40/18
Options on this build
Powertrain: PA6 fuel pump; ceramic sidepipes (silver); ceramic headers; aluminum gas tank with internal pump; aluminum radiator and shroud; power steering rack (paired with Coyote engine kit).
Interior: Autometer Classic gauge upgrade; glove box; cam-lock seat belts (black); chrome fire extinguisher; Ridetech billet knobs (wiper and lights).
Body: paint protection film (complete coverage); paint protection film on door tops as an additional option; white gumball rondels.
Exterior: passenger roll bar; Ray Dot mirrors (driver and passenger).
About this build
BDR1624 reads as a straight-down-the-middle Backdraft RT3 ordered for usability. The Coyote drivetrain is the headline: a 5.0 Gen II making 435 horsepower paired with a Tremec T56 Magnum six-speed gives the car modern driveability and parts availability without straying from Backdraft’s Ford convention. The buyer paired that with the standard BMW E36 suspension and brake package for handling that holds up against modern traffic, then specified paint protection film across the entire body with the door tops as an additional option. None of those choices read as showpiece. They read as a car someone intended to drive.
The option sheet supports that read. Cam-lock seat belts, a chrome fire extinguisher, a passenger roll bar, and Ray Dot mirrors on both sides are practical touches. The Autometer Classic gauges and Ridetech billet knobs are restrained, period-correct without straying into recreation. The Guardsman Blue and Wimbledon White stripe combination with white gumball rondels is the standard Cobra livery; no statement is being made beyond “this is a Cobra.” The mileage record bears that intent out only partially: the car covered 1,870 miles between delivery and the 2020 documentation, suggesting it has been used, but not used hard.
About Backdraft Racing
Backdraft Racing was founded in January 2001 by Tony Marten and Reg Dodd, both world champion auto racers. The company manufactures factory-assembled Cobra tributes in South Africa and runs US operations from a facility in Boynton Beach, Florida. Backdraft positions its cars as turn-key-minus-drivetrain: the buyer specifies the engine and transmission, and Backdraft delivers everything else. The RT3 was the model BDR1624 was built as in 2017. Other Backdraft builds documented on Cobra Authority are filed under the Backdraft Racing Cobras category. For broader context on where Backdraft sits among the Cobra replica options, see the Shelby Cobra buyer’s guide. For the program these tributes trace back to, see the history of AC Cars and the birth of the Shelby Cobra.
Sale history
- 2017: Original delivery from Backdraft Racing to first owner
- 2017: Sold by first owner through Streetside Classics with very few miles on the odometer (specific dealership location and sale price not documented in available sources)
- August 2025: Traded by second owner to Global Imports of Atlanta, Georgia
Images and original specifications courtesy of Cobra Authority. Manufacturer information from Backdraft Racing (backdraftracing.com). Ownership and sale-history notes from owner-supplied information.
Last updated: May 16, 2026
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